Chapter 11: Ventilation Kacmarek: Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 1
Edition
1. What is the primary function of the lungs?
a. Convert angiotensin I to angiotensin II.
b. Filter pulmonary blood.
c. Gas exchange.
d. Remove carbon monoxide (CO).: ANS: C
The primary functions of the lungs are to supply the body with oxygen (O2) and to
remove carbon dioxide (CO2).
2. During each cycle of normal resting ventilation, a volume of gas is
moved into and out of the respiratory tract. This cyclical volume is called
the a. inspiratory reserve volume (IRV).
b. vital capacity (VC).
c. residual volume (RV).
d. tidal volume (VT): ANS: D
During each cycle, a volume of gas moves in and out of the respiratory tract. This
volume, measured during either inspiration or expiration, is called the tidal volume,
or VT
3. Which of the following pressures vary throughout the normal breathing
cycle?
1. Alveolar pressure (PA)
2. Body surface pressure (PBS)
3. Mouth pressure (PAO) 4. Pleural pressure (Ppl)
a. 1, 2, and 3 only
b. 2, 3, and 4 only
c. 2 and 4 only
d. 1 and 4 only: ANS: D
Alveolar pressure (PA), often referred to as intrapulmonary pressure, varies during
the breathing cycle. PPL also varies during the breathing cycle.
4. Which of the following pressures normally remains negative (relative to
atmospheric pressure) during quiet breathing? a. PA
b. Ppl
c. PAO
, Chapter 11: Ventilation Kacmarek: Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 1
Edition
d. PBS: ANS: B
Pleural pressure (PPL) is usually negative (i.e., sub-atmospheric) during quiet
breathing.
5. Which of the following pressure gradients is responsible for the actual flow
of gas into and out of the lungs during breathing? a. Transalveolar pressure
gradient (PA - Ppl)
b. Transpulmonary pressure gradient (PAL - Ppl)
c. Transrespiratory pressure gradient (PA - PAO)
d. Transthoracic pressure gradient (PPL - PBS): ANS: C
The transrespiratory pressure gradient causes gas to flow into and out of the alveoli
during breathing.
6. Which of the following pressure gradients is responsible for maintaining
alveolar inflation?
a. Transpulmonary pressure gradient (PAL - Ppl)
b. Transthoracic pressure gradient (Ppl - PBS)
c. Transcardiac pressure gradient (PCA - PAL)
d. Transrespiratory pressure gradient (PAL - PAO): ANS: A
Transpulmonary is the pressure difference that maintains alveolar inflation.
7. Which of the following statements about alveolar pressure (PAL) during
normal quiet breathing is true?
a. It is positive during inspiration and negative during expiration.
b. It is the same as intrapleural pressure (Ppl).
c. It is negative during inspiration and positive during expiration.
d. It always remains less than atmospheric pressure.: ANS: C
During inspiration the pleural pressure drops, the transpulmonary pressure gradient
widens, causing the alveoli pressure to become sub-atmospheric and gas to enter
the lung. During expiration the passive recoil of the lungs cause a supra-
atmospheric pressure in the alveoli that causes gas to exit the lung 8. What
happens during normal inspiration?
1. The Ppl increases further below atmospheric pressure.
2. The transpulmonary pressure gradient widens.
3. PAL drops below that at the airway opening.
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
, Chapter 11: Ventilation Kacmarek: Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 1
Edition
c. 1 only
d. 1 and 3 onl: ANS: B
As the alveoli expand, their pressures fall below the pressure at the airway opening.
This "negative" (i.e., sub-atmospheric) transrespiratory pressure gradient causes air
to flow from the airway opening to the alveoli, increasing their volume.
9. During normal tidal ventilation, the transpulmonary pressure gradient (PAL-
Ppl) reaches its maximum value at what point in the cycle? a. Midinspiration
b. End-expiration
c. End-inspiration
d. Mid-expiration: ANS: C
At this point, called end-inspiration, alveolar pressure has returned to 0 and the
transpulmonary pressure gradient reaches its maximal value (for a normal breath)
of napproximately -10 cm H2O.
10. During expiration, why does gas flow out from the lungs to the
atmosphere?
a. PAL is less than at the airway opening.
b. PAL is the same as at the airway opening.
c. PAL is greater than at the airway opening.
d. Airway pressure is greater than PAL.: ANS: C
As expiration begins, the thorax recoils and Ppl starts to rise. As pleural pressure
rises, alveolar pressure also increases. The transpulmonary pressure gradient
narrows and alveoli begin to deflate. As the alveoli become smaller, alveolar
pressure exceeds that at the airway opening.
11. What forces must be overcome to move air into the respiratory system?
1. Tissue movement
2. Elastic forces of lung tissue
3. Airway resistance
4. Surface tension forces
a. 1, 2, and 3 only
b. 2 and 4 only
Edition
1. What is the primary function of the lungs?
a. Convert angiotensin I to angiotensin II.
b. Filter pulmonary blood.
c. Gas exchange.
d. Remove carbon monoxide (CO).: ANS: C
The primary functions of the lungs are to supply the body with oxygen (O2) and to
remove carbon dioxide (CO2).
2. During each cycle of normal resting ventilation, a volume of gas is
moved into and out of the respiratory tract. This cyclical volume is called
the a. inspiratory reserve volume (IRV).
b. vital capacity (VC).
c. residual volume (RV).
d. tidal volume (VT): ANS: D
During each cycle, a volume of gas moves in and out of the respiratory tract. This
volume, measured during either inspiration or expiration, is called the tidal volume,
or VT
3. Which of the following pressures vary throughout the normal breathing
cycle?
1. Alveolar pressure (PA)
2. Body surface pressure (PBS)
3. Mouth pressure (PAO) 4. Pleural pressure (Ppl)
a. 1, 2, and 3 only
b. 2, 3, and 4 only
c. 2 and 4 only
d. 1 and 4 only: ANS: D
Alveolar pressure (PA), often referred to as intrapulmonary pressure, varies during
the breathing cycle. PPL also varies during the breathing cycle.
4. Which of the following pressures normally remains negative (relative to
atmospheric pressure) during quiet breathing? a. PA
b. Ppl
c. PAO
, Chapter 11: Ventilation Kacmarek: Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 1
Edition
d. PBS: ANS: B
Pleural pressure (PPL) is usually negative (i.e., sub-atmospheric) during quiet
breathing.
5. Which of the following pressure gradients is responsible for the actual flow
of gas into and out of the lungs during breathing? a. Transalveolar pressure
gradient (PA - Ppl)
b. Transpulmonary pressure gradient (PAL - Ppl)
c. Transrespiratory pressure gradient (PA - PAO)
d. Transthoracic pressure gradient (PPL - PBS): ANS: C
The transrespiratory pressure gradient causes gas to flow into and out of the alveoli
during breathing.
6. Which of the following pressure gradients is responsible for maintaining
alveolar inflation?
a. Transpulmonary pressure gradient (PAL - Ppl)
b. Transthoracic pressure gradient (Ppl - PBS)
c. Transcardiac pressure gradient (PCA - PAL)
d. Transrespiratory pressure gradient (PAL - PAO): ANS: A
Transpulmonary is the pressure difference that maintains alveolar inflation.
7. Which of the following statements about alveolar pressure (PAL) during
normal quiet breathing is true?
a. It is positive during inspiration and negative during expiration.
b. It is the same as intrapleural pressure (Ppl).
c. It is negative during inspiration and positive during expiration.
d. It always remains less than atmospheric pressure.: ANS: C
During inspiration the pleural pressure drops, the transpulmonary pressure gradient
widens, causing the alveoli pressure to become sub-atmospheric and gas to enter
the lung. During expiration the passive recoil of the lungs cause a supra-
atmospheric pressure in the alveoli that causes gas to exit the lung 8. What
happens during normal inspiration?
1. The Ppl increases further below atmospheric pressure.
2. The transpulmonary pressure gradient widens.
3. PAL drops below that at the airway opening.
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
, Chapter 11: Ventilation Kacmarek: Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 1
Edition
c. 1 only
d. 1 and 3 onl: ANS: B
As the alveoli expand, their pressures fall below the pressure at the airway opening.
This "negative" (i.e., sub-atmospheric) transrespiratory pressure gradient causes air
to flow from the airway opening to the alveoli, increasing their volume.
9. During normal tidal ventilation, the transpulmonary pressure gradient (PAL-
Ppl) reaches its maximum value at what point in the cycle? a. Midinspiration
b. End-expiration
c. End-inspiration
d. Mid-expiration: ANS: C
At this point, called end-inspiration, alveolar pressure has returned to 0 and the
transpulmonary pressure gradient reaches its maximal value (for a normal breath)
of napproximately -10 cm H2O.
10. During expiration, why does gas flow out from the lungs to the
atmosphere?
a. PAL is less than at the airway opening.
b. PAL is the same as at the airway opening.
c. PAL is greater than at the airway opening.
d. Airway pressure is greater than PAL.: ANS: C
As expiration begins, the thorax recoils and Ppl starts to rise. As pleural pressure
rises, alveolar pressure also increases. The transpulmonary pressure gradient
narrows and alveoli begin to deflate. As the alveoli become smaller, alveolar
pressure exceeds that at the airway opening.
11. What forces must be overcome to move air into the respiratory system?
1. Tissue movement
2. Elastic forces of lung tissue
3. Airway resistance
4. Surface tension forces
a. 1, 2, and 3 only
b. 2 and 4 only
